ES2650987T3 - Playback device, playback method, playback program and recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

A reproduction apparatus for reproducing content data hierarchically recorded on a disc-shaped recording medium, comprising: a player object (30) defined by a java class for controlling a reproduction process for content data hierarchically recorded on the disk-shaped recording medium and to generate an event (312) corresponding to a predetermined change; user input means for receiving a user input and informing said player object about the user input, wherein the default change is based on an input for said user input means; and a java program object (31) formed above said player object, wherein the java program object is a superordinate program with respect to the player object and controls the player object through an application programming interface (32), wherein the java program object is configured to prepare programs that are executed when the java program object is informed about the occurrence of events; where a program carries out a process corresponding to the event that takes place; and wherein said player object is configured to inform the java program object about the occurrence of said event, and to control the playback process for content data hierarchically recorded on the disc-shaped recording medium with said process corresponding to the event.

Description

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DESCRIPTION

Playback device, playback method, playback program and recording medium.

5 Technical field

The present invention relates to a reproduction apparatus, a reproduction method, a reproduction program and a recording medium that allow the user to operate, in an interactive way, a program recorded in a large capacity type recording medium such as, by example, the Blu-ray disc.

Prior art

10 In recent years, the Blu-ray disc standard has been proposed as a standard for a disc-type recording medium that is recordable and separable from a recording and playback device. The Blu-ray disc standard establishes a disc that has a recording medium with a diameter of 12 cm and a coverage layer that is 0.1 mm thick. The Blu-ray disc standard uses as optical systems a bluish purple laser that has a wavelength of 405 nm and a lens of the lens that has a numerical aperture of 0.85. The disk standard

15 Blu-ray achieves a recording capacity of 27 GB (gigabytes) maximum. As a result, a program of a BS digital high vision transmission available in Japan can be recorded for two hours or more without deterioration in image quality.

As sources (power supplies) of AV (Audio / Video) signals recorded on the recordable optical disc, it is expected to use an analog signal from, for example, a conventional analog television transmission and a signal

20 of, for example, a digital television transmission such as a digital transmission BS. The Blu-ray disc standard has established a sub-standard for a method of recording AV signals from such transmissions.

As a standard derived from the current Blu-ray Disc standard, there is a movement to develop playback-only recording media in which movies, music and the like are pre-recorded. As means of

25 disc-shaped recording in which movies and music are pre-recorded, the DVD (digital versatile disc) has been widely used. The optical disc of only reproduction according to the standard of disc Blu-ray is largely different from and superior to the conventional DVD in a big capacity of recording and a high speed of transfer that allow that the images of high vision are recorded during two hours or more in high quality.

The standard DVD video playback only achieves an interactive function with button images and so

30 successively on a menu screen. For example, while playing a motion picture of the DVD video, a process that requires a menu screen with a remote control commander or the like can be performed, select a button image on the menu screen and change the Played scene

In the case of DVD video, a menu screen consists of fixed sub-picture data. When the menu screen is required, it is displayed in such a way that the subimage data is combined with the image data in

35 movement. The data in the button image is included in the sub-picture data. The document of the "Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. HEI 10-308924" discloses a structure whose subimage data is combined with the moving image data and the combined data is recorded on a recordable DVD.

However, since the DVD-only video standard sets functions that use simple commands, it is difficult to achieve complicated interactive functions. Therefore, the creator needs a lot of work

40 to achieve complicated interactive functions with the standard DVD video playback only.

In addition, the DVD-only video standard sets simple program functions with a region of commands that are executed one after the other. Therefore, multi-process programming and event-driven programming cannot be carried out in the DVD-only playback video standard. Although the DVD video standard does not have a function that accesses a network such as the Internet, when the

The network access function is considered to be achieved, since the response times of the network and the user tend to be long, a multi-process process is very effective as a system structure to improve performance.

In addition, in the DVD video standard, the commands are incorporated into an AV (Audio / Video) stream whose video data and audio data are multiplexed. While the AV stream is playing, the built-in commands are extracted from

50 there and they run. In other words, a functioning model is carried out such as the tracking of a vineyard. Therefore, only when the user selects a button and executes a command corresponding to the button on a multi-level title selection screen containing derivations, is the following function decided. Therefore, in the DVD video standard, high-speed process techniques that provide commands for derivation prediction and speculative execution cannot be used.

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In addition, from the point of view of authorship, which creates discs, the standard of DVD-only video playback has disadvantages. Now, a button designed to appear at a predetermined moment in an AV flow is assumed and the timing moves forward or backward on the time axis. For example, as shown in Figure 1, the buttons designated to appear after the appearance of the start time button t1 until the appearance of the

5 end time button t2 in the AV stream is changed so that the buttons appear after time t3 that is earlier than time t1.

As is known, in the DVD video playback only standard, an AV stream is encoded and packetized as set forth in the MPEG 2 standard (Group of Experts on Motion Pictures 2). The temporary management of a playback output is carried out with pts (Display Time Indication). In the example that

10 shown in Figure 1, the appearance of the start time button is changed from pts1 corresponding to the time t1 to pts3 corresponding to the time t3.

In the DVD video standard, navigation information, video data, audio data and sub-image data are packaged and multiplexed individually as an AV stream. Commands and so on are incorporated into the AV flow. Video data, audio data and sub-image data are designated to appear in

15 times multiplexed. For example, as shown in Figure 2A, said data is multiplexed so that the predetermined data is reproduced at its predetermined times on the time axis managed at pts intervals.

Since the data is multiplexed in such a way, when the A button designated to appear at time pts1 is changed so that it appears at time pts3, the AV flow shown in Figure 2A must return to

20 be multiplexed so that the sub-image data of button 1 appears in time pts3. When the contents of a command that is executed when a button is selected are changed, the AV flow must be multiplexed again. When an AV stream is multiplexed again, it needs to be played by a DVD player and temporarily stored in a player's memory.

Therefore, in a conventional manner, it is difficult to achieve interactive functions that have a higher degree of freedom. To achieve them, the creator side needs a lot of work.

WO 2004/049710 describes a playback device with a user interface that has a high degree of freedom for use with a large-capacity disk-shaped recording medium containing a content. The apparatus comprises a virtual player to reproduce data from the disc. A reproduction control program is provided. The playback control program and the virtual player exchange commands to

30 through an API.

Document US 2003/161615 describes a new navigation function added to a legacy DVD-Video. The player unit plays recorded content that includes video content or AV content, and ENAV content associated with content (menu, chapter) of the video content of a DVD-Video disc. The video contents of the DVD disc are played by a video playback engine. The ENAV contents of

35 DVD discs are played by an ENAV engine. The ENAV engine controls the reproduction of the ENAV contents and that of the video contents in combination, connection and / or synchronism with each other according to the reproduced contents of the ENAV contents. The ENAV engine includes a user event handler to receive user events, and a command / property processor and event generation.

EP-A 1328114 describes a receiver / decoder comprising means for receiving a bit stream

40 audiovisual in a given input resolution, and means for selecting an output resolution that will be applied to an output representation of the audiovisual bit stream. The receiver includes a virtual machine that includes an event handler and a video recorder module to handle the recording and playback functions of a hard disk.

Description of the invention

The invention is defined in the appended claims.

An object of the present invention is to provide a reproduction apparatus, a reproduction method, a reproduction program and a recording medium that allow to easily achieve interface functions with a high degree of freedom for optical discs of only reproduction with great capacity for storage.

As described herein, a player object generates an event corresponding to

50 a predetermined change to control a playback process for content data hierarchically recorded on the disc-shaped recording medium with a process corresponding to the event described in a program object that is formed above the player object and which can be described a process corresponding to the event that takes place. Accordingly, a player object can perform a playback control for an original process for each disc-shaped recording medium.

In addition, at least the content data and a program object that can describe a process corresponding to an event taking place can be recorded on the recording medium. A reproduction process for the content data is controlled by a process corresponding to the event described in the program object by a player object that generates an event corresponding to a predetermined change and formed below the program object. Therefore, a player object can carry out a playback control for an original process for each recording medium.

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5 As described herein, a virtual player is structured that abstractly forms an AV stream playback function of a BD-ROM player. Events that take place in an event model applied to the virtual player are designated. In addition, the user events corresponding to the user entries are defined. Therefore, with an event model, DVD video functions can be achieved.

In addition, as described herein, a virtual player is structured that forms, in an abstract way, an AV stream playback function of the BD-ROM player. A Java class corresponding to the virtual player is defined. Events that take place in an event model applied to the virtual player are designated. In addition, the user events corresponding to the user entries are defined. Therefore, as a method of playback control for a video disc of only playback, they can

15 apply Java event models. As a result, with a Java program, playback of a playlist can be controlled.

Therefore, to implement complicated interactive functions, the disk creator side does not need much work.

In addition, the current approach can be applied not only to the Java language, but to a script language such as

20 example, the ECMA script. The content creator side can describe content for event handlers corresponding to events that use scripting language. As a result, when an event takes place, a function that the content creator side desires can be easily achieved.

Brief description of the drawings

Figure 1 is a schematic diagram describing a change of a start time occurrence of a button

25 according to the related technique; Figure 2A and Figure 2B are schematic diagrams describing the remultiplication of a flow; Figure 3A and Figure 3B are schematic diagrams showing an example of a layer structure of an HD movie mode of the BD-ROM standard; Figure 4 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a layer structure of a BD-ROM player; Figure 5 is a schematic diagram describing a basic BD 30 player; Figure 6 is a schematic diagram showing examples of

30 events that take place while playing a playlist; Figure 7 is a schematic diagram showing a list of examples of BDBasicPlayer class methods; Figure 8A, Figure 8B, and Figure 8C are schematic diagrams showing a list of examples of BDBasicPlayer class methods; Figure 9 is a schematic diagram showing a list of examples of BDBasicPlayer class methods; Figure 10 is a schematic diagram showing a list of examples of BDBasicPlayer class methods; Figure 11 is a

35 schematic diagram showing a list of examples of BDBasicPlayer class methods; Figure 12 is a schematic diagram showing a list of examples of BDBasicPlayer class methods; Figure 13 is a schematic diagram showing a list of examples of BDBasicPlayer class methods; Figure 14A, Figure 14B, and Figure 14C are schematic diagrams showing a list of examples of event definitions that occur in the BDBasicPalyer object of the D-ROM; Figure 15 is a schematic diagram that

40 describes an event and a listener; Figure 16A and Figure 16B are schematic diagrams showing a list of examples of methods with respect to the registration of event listeners; Figure 17 is a flowchart showing an example of a process that creates a program that uses the record of event listeners; Figure 18 is a flow chart showing an example of a process whose playback side implements a program that uses the record of event listeners; Figure 19A, Figure 19B, and Figure 19C are schematic diagrams

45 showing an AV clip stream file, a file that stores brand data, and a file that stores one-button data, respectively; Figure 20 is a schematic diagram describing a BD-ROM virtual player model based on an event driven model; Figure 21A, Figure 21B, Figure 21C, and Figure 21D are schematic diagrams showing a list of examples of user input command definitions that the BD-ROM virtual player model accepts; Figure 22 is a schematic diagram

50 showing an example of the RmtKeyEvent class of key input events of a remote control commander; Figure 23 is a schematic diagram showing a list of examples of RmtKeyEvent object methods; Figure 24 is a schematic diagram showing a list of examples of keys obtained with the getRmtKeyCode method; Figure 25A and Figure 25B are schematic diagrams showing a list of examples of keys obtained with the getRmtKeyCode method; Figure 26 is a flow chart showing a

55 example of a process that executes a program triggered by a key input event; Figure 27 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a file management structure applicable to a complete BD-ROM profile; Figure 28A, Figure 28B, and Figure 28C are functional block diagrams showing an example of a structure of a player decoder 100 according to a first embodiment of the present invention; Figure 29 is a schematic diagram showing a layer structure of the standard of

60 UMD video; Figure 30 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a player model according to a second embodiment of the present invention; Figure 31 is a schematic diagram showing an example of an internal structure of a movie player; Figure 32 is a schematic diagram showing three states of the movie player; Figure 33 is a schematic diagram showing an event model of the movie player according to the second embodiment of the present invention; and Figure 34A and Figure 34B are schematic diagrams showing a list of examples of event handlers of a movie player object.

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Better ways of carrying out the invention

Next, the present invention corresponding to the following structure will be described.

one.

 First embodiment of the present invention 1-1. About the BD-ROM 1-1a AV stream playback functions. About BD-ROM 1-1b HD movie mode. About the full profile of BD-ROM 1-2. BD virtual player model based on Java 1-3. About events generated by the BD 1-3a basic player. Categories of events 1-3b. About event models 1-4. About user entries 1-5. About the file management structure 1-6. About the decoder model

2.

 Second embodiment of the present invention 2-1. About the UMD 2-2 video standard. About the player model based on the UMD 2-3 video standard. About the event model of the movie player 2-4. About the object of movie player and user input 2-5. About event handling by the object of movie player

1. First embodiment of the present invention

Next, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described. For an easy understanding of the present invention, a standard for a playback-only recording medium will be briefly described as a derivative of the current Blu-ray disc standard. In the following description, the playback-only recording medium as a derivative of the Blu-ray disc standard is called BD-ROM (Blu-ray Disc with Read-Only Memory) to distinguish it from a recordable Blu-ray disc. The BD-ROM standard sets the HD (High Definition) movie mode that provides interactive functions similar to those of DVD video.

1-1. About the functions of the BD-ROM AV stream

1-1a. About BD-ROM HD movie mode

Figure 3A and Figure 3B show an example of a layer structure of the HD movie mode of the BD-ROM standard. The BD-ROM standard HD movie mode consists of a clip layer, a playlist player, a movie object layer, and an index table layer formed in succession from the lowest layer.

The clip layer consists of one or multiple clips. A clip consists of an AV clip stream and clip information. The entity of an AV stream is an AV clip stream file. An AV stream is recorded in an MPEG (Motion Picture Expert Group 2) transport stream with a time indication. An AV clip stream file can be multiplexed with button objects for button images.

When an AV clip stream file is recorded, a clip information file corresponding to that is created in the 1 to 1 ratio. A set of an AV clip stream file and a clip information file are referred to as a clip

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A clip is a recording unit. The playback order of the clips is controlled in an upper layer of clips. The playlist layer is a layer in which the clip playback path is designated. The playlist layer contains one or multiple playlists. In the HD movie mode of the BD-ROM standard, there is only one type of a playlist referred to as a playlist of

5 movies A movie playlist consists of a set of playback items. A playback element contains a set of an IN point and an OUT point that represent the playback range of a clip. With multiple playback elements, clips can be played in any order. Playback elements can designate the same clip. The IN point and OUT point of an AV clip stream file are designated byte positions.

10 The movie object exists above the playlist layer. The movie object layer consists of one or multiple movie objects. A movie object consists of a playlist play command and a set of player set commands. With the commands contained in a movie object, the reproduction of a playlist that reproduces a stream in a selected language or that has conditional derivations that make the playlists can be achieved

15 select to vary according to predetermined conditions. An example of an application that performs a reproduction of a playlist that has conditional derivations would be one of several levels. Consequently, movie objects provide interactivity.

The index table layer contains an index table and exists above the playlist layer. The index table consists of a movie object that runs first when the disc is loaded into the player, a

20 movie object that runs when the menu key is pressed, and a list of titles that the user can see. The index table provides a user interface. A title consists of one or multiple movie objects. The index table lists the movie objects that run first in the titles. The player decides a movie object that runs first in each function according to the index table.

The previous database is formed on the disc in BD-ROM HD movie mode. Player 25 reads the disc database and performs the designated function.

Next, a player side model will be described. Actually, several models of player implementation can be considered. In the present example, a player model is divided into a hardware type functional block that reproduces a stream and a software functional block that interprets and executes commands and exists above the software type functional block. Figure 4 shows an example of a structure of

30 layer of a BD-ROM player model. The left portion of Figure 4 shows the layer structure, which is divided into two functional blocks in the HD film mode.

A BD 200 presentation engine is a functional block that handles playlists and clips, decodes an AV stream, and reproduces a moving image and sound data. The BD 200 presentation engine also decodes a subtitle stream and a graphics stream for button and menu images.

35 The BD 200 presentation engine plays a designated playlist corresponding to a command received from the upper layer.

In the BD-ROM HD movie mode, a navigation engine 201 exists above the BD 200 presentation engine. The navigation engine 201 interprets an index table and movie objects and informs the BD 200 presentation engine about a playlist that finally plays.

40 1-1b. About BD-ROM's full profile to ...

Next, a complete profile of the BD-ROM standard will be described. The full profile of the BD-ROM standard is a mode that has a higher degree of freedom and expandability than the HD movie mode of the BD-ROM standard. Hereinafter, the full profile mode of the BD-ROM standard is referred to as the full profile.

According to the first embodiment of the present invention, the player model is provided with a virtual machine

45 Java (Java VM) and run a Java application to achieve the full profile for a higher degree of freedom and expandability. This point is largely different from the BD-ROM HD movie mode. Java, JavaVM, and so on are registered trademarks of Sun Microsystems, Inc.

The full profile needs to use all the functions of the player. An API (Application Programming Interface) is defined between the BD 200 presentation engine and a Java application. Consequently, the engine of

50 presentation BD 200 can work through the API. As the navigation engine 201 in the BD-ROM HD movie mode, it can be thought that the Java application exists above the BD 200 presentation engine. In other words, as illustrated in the right portion of Figure 4, in the full profile, a Java 203 application exists above the BD 200 presentation engine through a Java VM 202.

In addition, Java also has a network function and a graphics function. Therefore, there is a network layer 55 204 and a GUI (Graphical User Interface) 205 layer as lower layers of the Java 203 application and the Java VM

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When the BD 200 presentation engine works with the Java 203 application, it can be thought that the player that plays a playlist is a virtual player in the software, the commands for playback, stop, flow selection, and so on are sent to the player, and the player works with the commands. The player needs to inform the player of the current status of the player as to which playlist the player plays and at what times various functions, such as flow selections and user inputs, will change. According to the first embodiment of the present invention, said player functions are considered abstract objects in the Java 203 application. Reference is made to the abstract objects of the player functions as the basic BD player.

Next, with reference to Figure 5, a basic BD player will be described. A basic BD 30 player reproduces data from a disc-shaped recording medium defined in the first embodiment of the present invention. The BD 30 basic player is an object such as a personal computer in the computer environment. The computer environment is not limited to a general purpose personal computer. For example, the computer environment includes a software environment implemented in a dedicated playback apparatus and / or a recording and playback apparatus that reproduces data from a disk-shaped recording medium defined in the first embodiment of the present invention. Hereinafter, the disc-shaped recording medium according to the first embodiment of the present invention is abbreviated to disc.

The basic BD 30 player is an abstract object in the software. Under the BD 30 basic player there is an OS (Operating System) and hardware 33. As a superordinate program of the BD 30 basic player, there is a Java 31 program through an API 32.

The BD 30 basic player has two states A and B. In state A, a playlist and graphics can be played. In state B, its playback stops. State A includes multiple functions such as variable speed playback, for example, high speed playback and reverse playback and skip playback that plays data from any time point on the disc. In addition, the BD 30 basic player contains variables that maintain player states (common parameters 34). Common parameters 34 consist of registers and so on in the computer environment. When an application (Java program 31) in the upper layer accesses the common parameters 34 through a Java method, the application can carry out a process corresponding to the status of the basic BD 30 player.

The basic BD 30 player is an abstract object in the software. The basic BD 30 player finally converts the control by the Java program 31 through the API 32 by the control by the OS and the hardware 33 that exist at the lower level.

The BD 30 basic player needs to be controlled by a superordinate program (Java 31 program) through API 32. In addition, the BD 30 basic player needs to inform the superordinate program that the status of the BD 30 basic player changes. In other words, when the BD 30 basic player performs multiple functions that successively reproduce a playlist and then another playlist, the superordinate program needs to have known the status of the BD 30 basic player. According to the first embodiment of the present invention, as a mechanism that informs the top layer of the status of the player, event models are used.

Figure 6 shows examples of events that may occur while playing a playlist. When playback starts, the PlayStarted event takes place. Then, when playback of a playlist starts, the PlayListStarted event takes place. Since the beginning of a playlist is also the beginning of a play item, when the PlayListStarted event takes place, the PlayItemStarted event also takes place. If a chapter mark presenting a chapter is present at the beginning of the playlist, the MarkEncountered event takes place.

Also, if a mark is present on a playback item, while a playback item is playing, the mark is detected. Therefore, the MarkEncountered event takes place. When playback of the playback item is complete, the PlayltemEnded event takes place. When playback of the playlist has also been completed, the PlayListEnded event takes place. When playback is complete, the PlayEnded event takes place.

Therefore, while the player is running, several events take place. When the superordinate program is informed about the occurrence of an event, the superordinate program can know the status of the player. The superordinate program side prepares programs that run when informed of the occurrence of events, and can deal with the occurrence of the events.

According to the first embodiment of the present invention, an abstraction method for a player, method models that allow a Java program to operate the player, and event models that inform the Java program about the status of the player are provided. The Java language is implemented to a BD-ROM control program. In the system according to the first embodiment of the present invention, the disk creator creates the Java 31 program that operates the basic BD 30 player through API 32.

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Next, a practical example will be described where the player's functions are analyzed in detail, abstracted and represented as Java classes.

1-2. Java based BD virtual player model

To designate the full profile of the BD-ROM, it is necessary to define a runtime environment for the Blu-ray disc. An ideal model of the BD 30 basic player that reproduces data from the BD-ROM is called the BD-ROM virtual player model. The BD 30 basic player corresponds to a functional block that reproduces a playlist of the BD-ROM virtual player model. In the BD-ROM virtual player model, the states and conditions for state changes are defined. In addition, the attributes of streams reproduced by the BD 30 basic player are defined, a description method without commands (script) that controls the streams, and so on. The scripts and streams recorded on the BD-ROM must work correctly in the BD-ROM virtual player model.

Although a real BD-ROM player can be installed in several ways, when it is considered a model that does not need to be installed, the minimally required hardware resources can be clarified.

The BD-ROM virtual player model defined in the first embodiment of the present invention uses Java as a programming language that controls the basic BD 30 player. Java is a programming language created by Sun Microsystems, Inc. and has multiple editions such as , for example, J2EE, J2SE, J2ME, and so on that differ in their applicable system scales. In the present example, it is assumed that J2ME, which is an edition designed to be installed in a room decoder and so on, is used for the BD-ROM virtual player model. In other words, the BD-ROM virtual player model extends on the basis of J2ME.

As a feature of the Java language, when a new class is defined for a program, it can be easily extended. Assume that an HTML (Hypertext Markup Language) document does not support an event process. To allow said HTML document to support the event process, a script for the event process, for example an ECMA (European Computer Manufacturers Association) script is described in the HTML document.

When using the Java language, a corresponding function can be added to an extension method defined in the Java language without using multiple techniques that achieve the function. Therefore, a completed program is described in the Java language only. In addition, Java has already provided several program development environments. Therefore, it can be said that the disk creator can easily create disk contents.

When the BD-ROM virtual player model is described in the Java language, API, a class defined by Sun Microsystems, Inc., can be used as is. On the other hand, the basic BD 30 player is an original BD-ROM function. Therefore, Java does not provide the basic BD 30 player as an existing class and API. When said original BD-ROM function is achieved by Java, there can be several methods. However, according to the first embodiment of the present invention, the functions of the basic BD 30 player, API, event models, and so on are created according to the BD-ROM.

First, the BD 30 basic player is defined as a Java class. The class name is defined as BDBasicPlayer. Figure 7 through Figure 13 shows lists of examples of BDBasicPlayer class methods. All commands for the BD 30 basic player are carried out with these methods.

Figure 7 shows examples of methods used to obtain player establishment information. The getPlayerSpeed () method obtains the playback speed of the player. The getPlayerDirection () method obtains the player's playback address. The getDescriptionLanguage () method obtains the display language of the player. The getPlayListNumber () method obtains the playlist number that is currently being played. The getChapterNumber () method obtains the chapter number that is currently being played. The getPlayerSupport () method obtains the version and functions of the player.

Figure 8A, Figure 8B and Figure 8C show examples of methods used to play playlists. The playPlayList method (int playListNumber, long [playListTime]) starts playback of a playlist designated by "playListNumber". "playListNumber" is not essential. "playListTime" designates an elapsed time of the playlist. The playlist is played from the elapsed time "playListTime". The playPlayList (String playListURL, long [PlayListTime]) method starts playback of a playlist designated by "playListURL". "playListURL" is a playlist designated by a URL (Uniform Resource Locator). A playlist on the Internet can be designated by a URL. When the player has an Internet connection function, a playlist can be downloaded from a URL designated by "playListURL" and played. "playListTime" is not essential. "playListTime" designates an elapsed time of the playlist. The playlist is played from the elapsed time "playListTime".

The playPlayItem method (int playListNumber, int playItemNumber) starts playback of a playlist designated by "playListNumber" from a play item designated by "palyItemNumber". "playItemNumber" is "PlayItem_id" that identifies a play item and that is a numerical value that begins at 0. When playback starts from the beginning of a playlist, the value of "playItemNumber" is 0. The playPlayItem method (String playListURL, int playItemNumber) starts playback of a playlist designated by "playListURL" from a play item designated by "palyItemNumber". "playItemNumber" is "PlayItem_id" which is a numerical value that starts at 0. When the

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5 playback starts from the beginning of a playlist, the value of "playltemList" is 0.

The playChapterMark method (int playListNumber, int chapterNumber) reproduces a playlist designated by "playListNumber" from a chapter designated by "chapterNumber". "playListNumber" can be "playListURL". A playlist always starts with ChapterMark (chapter mark).

The moveAndPlay method (string position, object) position = ("prev" I "next" I "top" I "tail") object = ("PlayItem" I "Chapter")

10 designates a jump in a playlist. "next" designates a jump from the currently played position to the next play item or chapter and begins playback. "top" designates a jump from the position currently played at the end of the playlist. "prev" starts playback from the beginning of the currently played playlist. The stop () method stops playback. At this point, the value of the standard resistance is not maintained. The playSoundEffect (int sound_id) method reproduces a sound effect

15 selected by "sound_id".

Figure 9 shows examples of methods used for video streams. The getVideoStreamAvailability () method obtains a state that represents whether or not a designated video stream is contained. The setVideoStreamNumber () method designates a video stream that will be decoded. The getVideoStreamNumber () method obtains a video stream number that has been selected. The getVideoStreamAttribute () method gets attributes

20 of a video stream. The attributes of a video stream are, for example, coding system, resolution, aspect ratio, display mode in the case of an aspect ratio of 4: 3, subtitled encoded, and so on. The setAngleNumber () method designates an angle number. The getAngleNumber () method obtains an angle number that has been selected. The getMaxVideoStreams () method obtains the number of video streams that can be selected.

25 Figure 10 shows examples of methods used for audio streams. The getAudioStreamAvailability () method obtains a state that represents whether or not a designated audio stream is contained. The getAudioStreamLanguage () method obtains information about the language used in a designated audio stream. The setAudioStreamNumber () method designates an audio stream that will be played. The getAudioStreamNumber () method obtains a number of audio stream that is being played. The getAudioStreamAttribute () method obtains attributes from a

30 audio stream The attributes of an audio stream are, for example, coding system, number of channels, number of quantizer bits, sampling frequency, and so on. The getMaxAudioStreams () method obtains the number of audio streams that can be obtained.

Figure 11 shows examples of methods used for sub-image streams. The getSPStreamAvailability () method obtains a state that represents whether or not a designated sub-picture stream is contained. 35 The getSPStreamLanguage () method obtains the language used in a designated sub-picture stream. The getSPDisplayStatus () method obtains a display status of a sub-image stream, namely whether it is being displayed

or not currently. The setSPDisplayStatus () method sets a display status of a sub-image stream, namely whether to display it or not. The getSPStreamAttribute () method obtains attributes from a sub-image stream. The attributes of a sub-picture stream are, for example, information about the resolutions of the streams of

40 sub-images, information on an aspect ratio of 4: 3 or type of width, and so on.

Figure 12 shows examples of methods used for internal timers. The sleep () method stops a process for designated milliseconds. The setTimeout () method executes a function or process after the designated milliseconds have elapsed. The setInterval () method executes a process at predetermined millisecond intervals. The clearTimer () method stops a process of a designated registration timer ID 45. The pauseTimer () method pauses a timer that has a designated registration timer ID. The resumeTimer () method resumes a paused timer that has a designated registration timer ID.

Figure 13 shows an example of a method used for a key input. The getPressedKey () method obtains the type of a key that the user has pressed.

1-3. About events generated by the basic BD player

50 When a method for a player function is executed, if the reaction of the player function is obtained, for example, with respect to whether the operation of the player has started normally, a method return value can be used. However, if a process that requires a long time is designated and it is necessary to wait until the process is complete, another process cannot be carried out. In addition, there are processes whose start times are unpredictable. In such cases, an event technique can be used to

55 carry out the processes effectively.

While the player is running, several events take place. The events that take place are defined in the BD-ROM virtual player model. A model in which when the operation of the player varies, a

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event takes place and when there is a program corresponding to an event, the program executed is defined by the BD-ROM virtual player model.

When multiple playlists are played in a predetermined order, a program is provided that performs a process that begins playback of a playlist after receiving an event that represents that the reproduction of the preceding playlist has been completed. In addition, a program that performs an exception process is provided when the following playlist is not played due to any cause.

When this event is not described, a function (a default event handler) that is built in the player is executed or the event is ignored. When a process is not necessary, the event is actively ignored. At this point, an event listener is not registered (which will be described later). Alternatively, when a program corresponding to the event is not described, the event is ignored.

Reference is made to the model in which a non-periodic event takes place and a program corresponding to the event is executed as the event driven model.

1-3a. Event Categories

The events of the BD-ROM virtual player model can be classified as three types of (1) events that take place in a content that is being played, (2) an event that takes place as an interruption by the user, and (3) events that occur corresponding to changes in player status.

(one)

The events that take place in a content that is being played are brand detection interruption events that take place at times designated by the brands. When these events take place, the graphics are displayed or deleted. These events are pre-established interruptions. When reproduction takes place, these events take place at the same times.

(2)

It is assumed that an event that occurs as an interruption by the user is a key input on a remote control commander with which the user operates the player. The interruption time of this event is unpredictable since it is not clear at what time the user will carry out a key entry.

(3)

The events that take place corresponding to the changes in the player's status are, for example, an event that occurs when the player's status changes from the start of stops to the playback status and an event that occurs when a stream is being playing has changed to another flow. When a timer is set in a program, a timer interrupt event takes place at a designated time. The changes in the player's status can be (1) events that take place in a content that is being played and (2) an event that occurs as an interruption by the user.

Figure 14A, Figure 14B, and Figure 14C show a list of examples of event definitions that occur in the BDBasicPlayer object of the BD-ROM. The BDBasicPlayer object is an object that takes place in the BDBasicPlayer class.

First, the events that take place in a content that is being played will be described (1). In Figure 14A, Figure 14B, and Figure 14C, the MarkEncounteredEvent event occurs when a mark has been detected while content is playing. This event is used when, for example, a graphic screen is displayed. The ValidPeriodStartedEvent event occurs when a valid period of selecting a user entry has begun. The ValidPeriodEndedEvent event occurs when a valid period of a user entry has ended. This event is used when, for example, a forced link is executed. The PlayRepeatedEvent event occurs when the beginning of a replay region is detected. The VideoStreamChangedEvent event occurs when a video stream that was being played is changed. The AudioStreamChangedEvent event occurs when an audio stream that was being played is changed. The SubpictureStreamChangedEvent event occurs when a sub-stream of images that were being played is changed. The StreamDisplayStatusChangedEvent event occurs when the display / non-display status of a flow is changed. The PlayListStartedEvent event occurs when the beginning of a playlist is detected. The PlayListEndedEvent event occurs when the end of a playlist is detected. The PlayltemStartedEvent event occurs when the beginning of a playback item is detected. The PlayltemEndedEvent event occurs when the end of a playback item is detected.

Next, an event that occurs as an interruption by the user will be described (2). The RmKeyEvent event occurs when a key on the remote commander is pressed. A key that has been pressed is determined with a corresponding event listener (which will be described later).

Next, we will describe (3) events that take place corresponding to changes in player status. The PlayStartedEvent event occurs when the player has started playback. The PlayStoppedEvent event occurs when the player has stopped playback. The PlayStilledEvent event takes place when the player has stopped playback. The StillReleaseEvent event takes place when the

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player has released the paralyzed state of playback. The PlayPausedEvent event takes place when player playback has been paused by the user. The PauseReleaseEvent event takes place when the paused state has been released. The TimerFiredEvent event occurs when a countdown timer becomes 0 or a countdown timer becomes a default value.

1-3b About event models

It is assumed that the events described in Figure 14A, Figure 14B, and Figure 14C take place in the BDBasicPlayer object. In other words, an event source of the Java language is assumed to be the BDBasicPlayer object. Events are defined as event objects in the Java language. A method that is executed when an event takes place is called a listener. To execute a listener, it is necessary to register an event listener in an event source. When a listener has registered with an event source, the BDBasicPlayer object transmits an event to the event listener. The object that received the event executes a method provided on the object.

Next, with reference to Figure 15, listeners and events will be described. Objects 211, 211, ... and so on have a listener interface that receives an event and executes a listener. Object 211 registers a listener corresponding to an event that object 211 wishes to receive for the BDBasicPlayer object 210 (step E10). The record of a listener corresponding to an event for the BDBasicPlayer 210 object is called the event listener record. The multiple objects 211, 211, ..., and so on can perform the event listener registration for the BDBasicPlayer 210 object.

An object that implements a listener interface is an object that implements a method that is executed when an event takes place. In the example shown in Figure 15, the doAction () method that is executed when a default event takes place is implemented for object 211. When an event takes place on the BDBasicPlayer 210 object (in step E11) and the event has been registered in the BDBasicPlayer 210 object as an event listener, the event is transmitted to object 211 that has been registered as an event listener (in step E12). Object 211 that received the event executes the doAction () method (in step E13).

Figure 16A and Figure 16B show a list of examples of methods used to register event listeners. The addContentListener (ContentsListener 1) method registers a listener designated for the BDBasicPlayer object to receive the ContentsEvent event of the BDBasicPlayer object. The registered listener is added to a ContentsListener () array. The ContentsEvent event is a general term of (1) events that occur in content that is being played. The addRmtKeyListener (RmtKeyListener 1) method registers a listener designated to receive the RmtKeyEvent event ((2) an event that occurs as a user interrupt, described in Figure 14A, Figure 14B and Figure 14C) of the BDBasicPlayer object. The registered listener is added to the RmtKeyListener () matrix. The addPlayerStatusListener (PlayerStatusListener 1) method registers a listener designated to receive the PlayerStatusEvent event of the BDBasicPlayer object. The registered listener is added to the PlayerStatusListener () array. The PlayerStatusEvent event is a general term of (3) events that take place corresponding to the change of player status, as described in Figure 14A, Figure 14B and Figure 14C.

The removeContentListener (ContentsListener 1) method removes a listener designated not to receive the ContentsEvent event of the BDBasicPlayer object. The removeRmtKeyListener (RmkKeyListener 1) method removes a listener designated not to receive the RmtKeyEvent event from the BDBasicPlayer object. The removePlayerStatusListener (PlayerStatusListener 1) method removes a designated listener from the BDBasicPlayer object so as not to receive the PlayerStatusEvent event from the BDBasicPlayer object.

When a method that begins with "add" is executed, an event listener is registered. An event listener registers before a desired event takes place. When an event does not need to be received, with a method that begins with "remove", the transmission of the event can be stopped.

In Figure 16A and Figure 16B, the getContentsListeners () method returns an array of all content listeners registered in the BDBasicPlayer object. The getRmtkeyListeners () method returns an array of all the RmtkeyListeners registered in the BDBasicPlayer object. The getPlayerStatusListeners () method returns an array of all PlayerStatusListeners registered in the BDBasicPlayer object.

Next, an example of a program created by using the event listener record will be described. In the present example, a program is created that causes the buttons to appear in a designated scene of a playlist that is being played. To determine that a default scene is playing in a playlist, a mark function can be used. The brand function is a function that can set any time in a playlist. When a marked scene is about to play, the MarkEncounteredEvent event described in Figure 14A, Figure 14B and Figure 14C takes place. A button object that implements a listener interface that causes a button to appear when the MarkEncounteredEvent event takes place can be created. In other words, a program that registers an event listener for the BDBasicPlayer object and causes an image to appear when the MarkEncounteredEvent event is received can be implemented in the button object.

image7

More practical, as exemplified in Figure 17, it is decided in which scene of a playlist a button appears (in step E20). A mark is set at the moment the button appears in the playlist (in step E21). Next, a method that records an event listener corresponding to the mark that has been set in step E21 is described in the program (in step E22). In other words, in the

5 step E22, describes the function performed in step E10 shown in Figure 15. A process that is executed when an event takes place is described in the button object. The listener interface corresponding to the brand generation event is implemented in the button object (in step E23). In other words, in step E23, the content of step E13 is described. These programs are described in the Java language.

Figure 18 shows an example of a process that implements a programming function shown in

10 Figure 17 for the playback side. The BDBasicPlayer object starts playback of a playlist (in step E30). It is assumed that while a playlist is being played, the BDBasicPlayer object has detected a mark in the playlist (in step E31). The BDBasicPlayer object checks whether an event listener corresponding to the detected mark has been registered or not (in step E32). In other words, in step E32, it is determined whether the process in step E10 described in Figure 15 has been carried out.

15 out or not. If the determined result represents that the corresponding event listener has not been registered, the flow proceeds to step E36. Therefore, the BDBasicPlayer object does not transmit an event.

On the other hand, when the determined result represents that the event listener corresponding to the brand has been registered, the flow advances to step E33. In step E33, the BDBasicPlayer object transmits the MarkEncounteredEvent event to an object that the event listener has registered. This process is the same as the process in

20 stage E12 shown in Figure 15. When the object has received the MarkEncounteredEvent event, the object executes the method that will be executed when the MarkEncounteredEvent event takes place (in step E34). In other words, in step E34, the doAction () method is executed in step E13 shown in Figure 15. In the present example, the doAction method describes a process that causes a button to appear on the screen. The button appears on the screen corresponding to the description (in step E35).

25 As described in the related technique section shown in Figure 2A and Figure 2B, in conventional DVD video, given that the information on the buttons has been multiplexed with an AV stream, when the start time of the appearance of the button changes, it is necessary to multiplex the AV flow again.

On the contrary, in the BD-ROM virtual player model according to the first embodiment of the present invention, by changing the position of setting a mark on the time axis only, the start time

30 button appearance can be changed. According to the first embodiment of the present invention, as shown in Figure 19A, Figure 19B and Figure 19C, an AV clip stream file (Figure 19A), a brand data file (Figure 19B), and a data file Buttons (Figure 19C) are structured independently (the file structure will be described later). The AV clip stream file is a file in which a video packet and an audio packet are multiplexed.

35 In that way, the information of a brand is stored in a database file that is different from an AV clip stream file. Therefore, as shown in Figure 19A, Figure 19B and Figure 19C, when the start time of the appearance of a button image changes from time pts1 to time pts2, it is only necessary to change the time pts1 of the brand information to pts2 time. Therefore, even if the position of a brand is changed, it is not necessary to multiplex the AV clip stream again.

In addition, according to the first embodiment, the data that makes up a button is stored in a file that is different from an AV clip stream file. Therefore, as a process executed when a button is selected, only the method of the button object independent of the AV clip stream file needs to be changed. As described above, in conventional DVD video, since a button command that performs a process that will be executed when the button is selected is multiplexed with an AV stream, the process executed when the button

45 is selected cannot be easily achieved.

In the full BD-ROM profile, the previous BD-ROM virtual player model can provide more flexibility and easier authorization than conventional DVD video.

In the previous embodiment, the BD-ROM virtual player model is structured on the basis of an object-oriented event listener model. Alternatively, a BD-ROM virtual player model can

50 be structured with a simpler event driven model than said example.

Next, with reference to Figure 20, a BD-ROM virtual player model based on an event driven model will be described. The events that take place in the BDBasicPlayer object are the same as those in an object-oriented model shown in Figure 15. In the case of this event-driven model, it is assumed that when an event takes place, only the event is required. processEvent () method defined in the object

55 BDBasicPlayer. In other words, in the model, no matter what event takes place, the same method is required. Therefore, to change a process corresponding to the type of an event taking place, it is necessary to determine which event has taken place in the processEvent () method.

image8

In this model, it is not necessary to register an event listener corresponding to each event. However, when an event takes place, since the processEvent () method is required, the efficiency of that model is low. In addition, since the processEvent () method to be processed is fixedly defined in the BDBasicPlayer object, this model has no expandability that allows defining a new process routine in another object

5 and run it. Accordingly, according to the first embodiment of the present invention, which emphasizes the high expandability, it is preferred to structure the BD-ROM virtual player model with an object-oriented model described in Figure 15.

1-4. About user entries

Figure 21A, Figure 21B, Figure 21C and Figure 21D show a list of examples of command definitions

10 user inputs that the BD-ROM virtual player model can receive. It is assumed that the user inputs are key inputs of the remote control commander with which the user operates the player and entries corresponding to the player menu screen. In the BD-ROM virtual player model, user inputs are a type of key input events.

The timeSearch (playlistNumber, Time) command causes a scenario that is playing to play

15 from the time designated by "Time". The play (palylistNumber, chapterNumber) command causes a designated scenario to be played from a chapter designated by "chapterNumber". The stop () command causes playback to stop. The prev () command causes playback to start from the beginning of the chapter prior to the chapter being played. The top () command causes playback to start from the beginning of a chapter that is being played. The next () command causes playback to start from the beginning of the

20 chapter following the chapter being played. The forwardScan (speed) command causes playback to take place in the forward direction at a speed designated by "speed". The backwardScan (speed) command causes playback to take place in the backward direction at a speed designated by "speed". "speed" can be designated in the range of 0.1 to 360.

The moveCursor (direction, [level]) command causes the cursor to move in the upper, lower,

25 left and right. "direction" is any of "upper" (upper), "lower" (lower), "left" (left) and "right" (right) that make the cursor move in the upper, lower, left and right, respectively. "level" can be designated with a value in the range of "0" to "255". "level" is optional and is not normally used or is "0". When "level" is an intermediate value ("1" to "255"), an analog joystick can be represented.

30 The click (buttonNumber) command causes a button to be clicked on the screen. The focus (buttonNumber) command causes attention to be focused on a button on the screen.

The stillOff () command causes playback stopped by the player to resume. The stillOff () command can be integrated with the pauseOff command. The pauseOn () command causes playback to pause. The pauseOn () command can only work when a scenario is played. The pauseOff () command causes the

35 leisurely playback is released.

The LanguageSelect (languageCode) command designates the display language of the menu. The StreamChange (StreamNumber) command causes a stream that is playing to change. The setEnabled (Boolean) command causes a flow to be displayed / not displayed. The angleChange (angleNumber) command causes a viewing angle to change. The parentalCountrySelect (countryCode) command causes a country code to

40 a parental level is set. The videoPresentationModeChange (mode) command designates a video display format. "mode" is any of "Width", "LB (Letter Box)" and "PanScan".

Figure 22 shows an example of a RmtKeyEvent class that represents a key input event that takes place in the remote control commander. The "source" parameter is an object of a source of an event. Therefore, "source" represents the BDBasicPlayer object. The "id" parameter is an integer that represents the type of

45 event The "when" parameter is an integer in the long format that represents the time in which an event takes place. The "mtKeyCode" parameter is an integer type code corresponding to a virtual input key or "VK_UNDEFINED". "VK_UNDEFINED" will be described later.

As described in Figure 3A and Figure 3B, user inputs via remote control commander keys are received by the hardware and transferred to the BDBasicPlayer object. The BDBasicPlayer object generates the

50 RmtKeyEvent object corresponding to the user input and RmtKeyEvent class. An object that has registered an event listener corresponding to the RmtKeyEvent object is informed about a command corresponding to a user input.

Figure 23 shows a list of examples of methods of the RmtKeyEvent object. The getRmtKeyCode method returns a key code corresponding to a key that has caused an event to take place. The method

55 setRmtKeyCode sets a key code of a key that causes an event to take place. When the getRmtKeyCode method is executed, which RmtKeyEvent key object can be determined.

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Figure 24, Figure 25A and Figure 25B show lists of examples of keys obtained by the getRmtKeyCode method described in Figure 23. The keys that start with "VK" shown in Figure 25A and Figure 25B are virtual keys on the object BDBasicPalyer. The VK_POWER key provides a function corresponding to the power key. The VK_POWER_ON key provides a function corresponding to the ON key. The VK_POWER_OFF key provides a function corresponding to the OFF key. The VK_MENU key provides a function corresponding to a menu key that causes a menu to appear. The VK_ENTER key provides a function corresponding to an entry key that causes data to be entered. The VK_RETURN key provides a function corresponding to a return key that causes the stage of a process to be returned.

The VK_PLAY key provides a function corresponding to a playback key that causes playback to take place. The VK_STOP key provides a function corresponding to a stop key that causes playback to stop. The VK_PAUSE key provides a function corresponding to a pause key that causes playback to pause. The VK_FAST_FORWARD key provides a function corresponding to a fast forward key that causes fast forward playback. The VK_FAST_REVERSE key provides a function corresponding to a reverse key that causes fast reverse playback. The VK_SLOW_FORWARD key provides a function corresponding to a slow forward key that causes slow forward playback. The VK_SLOW_REVERSE key provides a function corresponding to a slow backward playback key that causes slow backward playback. The VK_STEP_FORWARD key provides a function corresponding to a stage advance key that causes forward stage playback to be performed. The VK_STEP_REVERSE key provides a function corresponding to a stage rewind key that causes stage backward playback to be performed.

The VK_NEXT key provides a function corresponding to a next key that causes a value corresponding to "next" to be entered. The VK_PREVIOUS key provides a function corresponding to a previous key that causes a value corresponding to "previous" to be entered. With the VK_NEXT key and the VK_PREVIOUS key, the current chapter is caused to jump to the next and previous chapters, respectively.

The VK_UP key provides a function corresponding to the up key that causes an "up" value to be entered. The VK_DOWN key provides a function corresponding to the down key that causes a "down" value to be entered. The VK_RIGHT key provides a function corresponding to the right key that causes a "right" value to be entered. The VK_LEFT key provides a function corresponding to the left key that causes a "left" value to be entered. The VK_UP_RIGHT key provides a function corresponding to the upper right key that causes an "upper right" value to be entered. The VK_UP_LEFT key provides a function corresponding to the upper left key that causes an "upper left" value to be entered. The VK_DOWN_RIGHT key provides a function corresponding to the lower right key that causes a "lower right" value to be entered. The VK_DOWN_LEFT key provides a function corresponding to the lower left key that causes a "lower left" value to be entered. These directional keys make the cursor move on the screen.

The VK_ANGLE key provides a function corresponding to the angle selection key that causes the angle of a multi-angle video content to be changed. The VK_PRESENTATION_GRAPHICS key provides a function corresponding to the subtitle selection key that selects the English / Japanese subtitle, the subtitle display / non-display mode, and so on. The VK_AUDIO key provides a function corresponding to the audio selection key that selects an audio mode such as an surround mode or a bilingual mode. The VK_VIDEO_ASPECT key provides a function corresponding to the aspect ratio selection key that selects an aspect ratio of a video content. The VK_COLORED_KEY_1 key provides a function corresponding to the color function key 1. The VK_COLORED_KEY_2 key provides a function corresponding to the color function key 2. The VK_COLORED_KEY_3 key provides a function corresponding to the color function key 3. The key VK_COLORED_KEY_4 provides a function corresponding to the color function key 4. The VK_COLORED_KEY_5 key provides a function corresponding to the color function key 5. The VK_COLORED_KEY_6 key provides a function corresponding to the color function key 6. The VK_UNDEFINED key is An undefined key.

The keys listed in Figure 24, Figure 25A and Figure 25B do not always coincide with the keys physically arranged on a real remote control commander. In addition, depending on the type of remote control commander, multiple functions can be assigned to a physical key. Alternatively, the user can select one of the key images of a remote controller that appears on the screen. Therefore, the keys shown in Figure 24, Figure 25A and Figure 25B are virtual keys that, abstractly, form the corresponding functions. Since the user inputs for the BDBasicPlayer object are represented with these virtual keys, user inputs that do not depend on the device can be defined.

Figure 26 shows an example of a process that runs a program provided when a user input event takes place. In the process shown in Figure 26, when the user presses the "next" key

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While a chapter is playing normally, the current chapter skips to the next chapter, the next chapter is played, and a prepared message appears on the screen.

The "next" key is a key that causes the current chapter to skip to the next chapter and the next chapter to play. The "next" key is, for example, a key arranged on the remote control commander. The flowchart process shown in Figure 26 begins when the user presses the "next" key while the player plays a chapter (in step E41). When the "next" key is pressed, the RmekeyEvent object takes place (in step E42). The database is searched for a chapter mark of the next chapter (in step E43). Depending on the desired result, it is determined whether or not the following chapter mark exists (in step E44). When there is no chapter mark, a series of processes are completed and regular playback resumes. When the result determined in step E44 represents that the next chapter mark exists, the flow advances to step E45.

In step E45, the BDBasicPlayer object causes the playback of the current chapter being played back to stop in response to the "next" key (in step E45). When player playback stops, the PlayStoppedEvent event takes place (in step E46). The BDBasicPlayer object obtains the byte position of the next chapter mark in the AV clip stream file from the characteristic point information of the clip information file. The byte position obtained from the file is accessed and the flow is read and reproduced from the byte position (in step E47).

After step E48, a series of processes that cause a message to appear on the screen are carried out to inform the user that the current chapter has changed. In order to make a message appear in a position where the current chapter has changed, a method that causes the player to display a message needs to be implemented as an event listener corresponding to the MarkEncounteredEvent event. When playback of the stream starts, the PlayStartedEvent event takes place. In addition, the MarkEncountedEvent event takes place according to the chapter mark (in step E48).

When the MarkEncounterEvent event takes place, in step E49, the execution of a listener corresponding to the MarkEncounteredEvent event is started. In the listener, the type of mark detected by the MarkEncounteredEvent event is obtained (in step E50). It is determined whether or not the mark is a chapter mark (in step E51). When the determined result represents that the mark is not a chapter mark, the flow advances to step E53. In step E53, the listener's execution is completed. When the determined result represents that the detected mark is a chapter mark, the flow advances to step E52. In step E52, a message appears that represents the beginning of a chapter.

In the present example, when the user presses a key of the remote commander, the RmtKeyEvent event takes place. When the RmtKeyEvent event takes place, multiple state changes take place. As a result, multiple events, PlayStoppedEvent, PlayStartedEvent, and MarkEncunteredEvent take place.

Accordingly, in the BD-ROM virtual player model according to the first embodiment of the present invention, a user input event causes the status of the player to change and a new event to take place. With new events, several processes can be carried out.

According to the first embodiment of the present invention, by defining a BD-ROM virtual player model, several merits that are not present in the DVD video can be obtained. For example, according to the first embodiment of the present invention, several functions of conventional DVD video can be achieved with a model.

As a first example, a forced subtitle display function and a UOP (User Function) prohibition function can be used. The forced subtitle display function is a function that causes a predetermined subtitle to be displayed, in a forced manner, in a predetermined scene even if the user has turned off the subtitle display function. The UOP prohibition function is a function that prohibits the user from entering data. In the DVD video, data structures and operating models for these functions are defined.

In the BD-ROM virtual player model according to the first embodiment of the present invention, with respect to the forced subtitle display function, a scene (time) is marked for which a subtitle is forcedly displayed. A process that causes a subtitle to be forcedly displayed on the screen regardless of whether the subtitle display mode has been turned on or off is provided as a listener. Therefore, with a model that processes regular marks, the forced subtitle display function can be achieved.

With respect to the UOP prohibition function, unless an event listener for key entry events of the remote commander had registered, even if a key entry event takes place, no process is carried out . Therefore, user input is ignored and the UOP is prohibited.

Accordingly, according to the first embodiment of the present invention, since the functions of the DVD can be achieved with an event model, the disc creator side can create, in a non-laborious manner, the DVD.

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In addition, in the DVD video, the remote control commander keys are pre-assigned for the functions. When the submenu key of the remote control commander is pressed, as a function that has been pre-assigned for the submenu key, a submenu screen appears in which the audio mode, subtitle mode and angle can be changed. However, since the submenu is not essential data of the DVD video, there is a disc that does not have the submenu. In the present case, even if the submenu key is pressed while the player has such a disc, no function takes place.

On the other hand, in the BD-ROM virtual player model according to the first embodiment of the present invention, as described with reference to Figure 21A, Figure 21B, Figure 21C, Figure 21D, Figure 22, Figure 23, Figure 24, Figure 25A, and Figure 25B, the key relationships and processes carried out corresponding to that can be designated by the disk creator side. Therefore, with a program that makes the player of a message appear in the case where the disc does not have the submenu, when the user presses the submenu key, the user can be informed about a message that represents that the disc does not have the submenu

Accordingly, according to the first embodiment of the present invention, since the disk creator side has a higher degree of freedom to create a disk, the disk creator side can create a disk that the user can easily handle.

Furthermore, according to the first embodiment of the present invention, a Java class is defined corresponding to the BD-ROM virtual player model and the reproduction of a playlist is controlled with a Java program. With the Java program, a multi-process program can be achieved. As a result, delay periods due to network access and waiting time in response to user input can be easily handled. In addition, with the Java program, a derivation prediction, speculative execution, and so on can easily be achieved by pre-reading commands. Consequently, processes can be carried out at a high speed.

1-5. About the file management structure

Next, with reference to Figure 27, a file management structure applicable to a complete BD-ROM profile will be described. Files are managed hierarchically. A directory (a root directory in the example shown in Figure 27) is formed on a recording medium. The files under this directory are managed by a recording and playback system.

Below the root directory, the BDMV directory is located. Multiple BDMV directories can be located under the root directory.

Below the BDMV directory, two files "scenario.hdmv" and "entrylist.data" are located. Under the BDMV directory, multiple directories "PLAYLIST", "CLIPINF", and "STREAM" are located.

The "scenario.hdmv" file is a scenario file that stores a scenario. A scenario has a structure in which multiple playlists are arranged. For example, a scenario controls the play order of playlists. To allow the user to see a scenario in their divided units, chapters can be provided. Movie objects in the BD-ROM HD movie mode are stored in the "scenario.hdmv" file.

The "entrylist.data" file stores information about a menu, such as search points (title entries) for a scenario, playlists that make up a menu, and entry points for a group of playlists. An index table in the BD-ROM HD movie mode is stored in the "entrylist.data" file.

The "PLAYLIST" directory stores the playlists. A playlist is stored in a "****. Mpls" file. Information representing the positions of marks in an AV clip stream is stored in the playlist file "****. Mpls" that designates the playback range of the AV clip stream.

The "CLIPINF" directory stores clip information files "#####. Clpi". The "STREAM" directory stores AV clip stream files "%%%%%. M2ts". When related file names are assigned to AV clip stream files, they can be easily mapped. For example, the same file names "#####" and "%%%%%" except for extensions are used for clip information files and AV clip stream files.

A Java class file that composes a Java program is stored in a default directory (not shown) located below the BDMV directory. Alternatively, the Java class file can be located in a directory at the same hierarchical level as the BDMV directory.

1-6. About the decoder model

Next, a player decoder 100 according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described. Figure 28A, Figure 28B and Figure 28C are a functional block diagram showing an example of a structure of a player decoder 100 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The player decoder 100 interprets the data reproduced from a disc loaded in a drive device (not shown), produces an AV (Audio / Video) stream that composes a content, and allows the user to operate, interactively, the AV outflow.

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All the functions of the player decoder 100 are controlled by a CPU (not shown). The streams and 5 data streams of individual portions of the player decoder 100 are monitored and controlled by the CPU.

When the disc is loaded into the drive device (not shown), the "scenario.hdmv" file that describes the playlist play order and the "entrylist.data" file that describes the group's top playlist of playlists that make up a menu and a title are played. According to

10 descriptions of the "scenario.hdmv" file and the "entrylist.data" file, other necessary files are read from the disc and thus a content recorded on the disc is played.

For example, according to the descriptions of the "scenario.hdmv" file and the "entrylist.data" file, the moving image data displayed in a video plane 134 and a video background 160, the image data displayed in a graphics plane A 132, a graphics plane B 133, and a video background 160, a

15 playlist file, and so on are read from disk. In the full profile, a file that stores a program is read and executed.

In the following description, among the data read from the disc, the flows are referred to as, for example, moving image data, sub-images (subtitle data) and sound data that must be processed continuously as flows in real time. On the contrary, reference is made to the data in time

20 not real, such as scenario files, playlist files, program files, part of moving images, motionless images, and sound data that do not need to be continuously processed as storage objects. Storage objects are stored in a memory or the like and expanded there. Storage objects stored in memory are processed when necessary.

The player decoder 100 has two systems of input channels that are channel (1) and channel (2).

25 A storage object is entered into an input terminal 101 of the input channel (1). A real-time flow is entered into an input terminal 202 of the input channel (2). Alternatively, a storage object can be entered in the input terminal 202. According to the first and second embodiments of the present invention, a real-time flow and part of the storage objects that are entered in the input terminal 202 are , for example, MPEG2 TS (Transport Flows of the Group of Experts of Images in

30 Movement 2).

A real-time flow that is entered into input terminal 202 is not limited to an MPEG 2 TS. Whenever a real-time stream can be transmitted in the unit of a packet and multiplexed with video data, audio data, motionless image data, or the like, a stream that has another format can be entered. At this point, a PID filter 110 that will be described later is used as a demultiplexer that demultiplexes data from

35 video, audio data, motionless image data, or the like.

When the rotation speed of the disk in the drive device increases, for example, twice and the read transfer rate of the disk increases, the reading functions for both systems of the channels (1) and (2) of the disk They can be carried out according to the time division.

Next, the input channel system (1) will be described. A storage object that is entered into the

40 input terminal 101 is entered in a switching circuit 102. When a program code of a Java file, an ECMA (European Computer Manufacturers Association) script, an HTML file (Hypertext Markup Language) (or an XHTML file), or the like as a storage object, the switching circuit 102 selects an output terminal 102A. The input program code is stored in a buffer of code 104.

On the other hand, when the image data is entered as a storage object, the switching circuit 102 selects an output terminal 102B. As a result, the input image data is entered in a switching circuit 103. When a real-time flow that is entered in the input terminal 202 does not contain image data displayed in the graphic plane A 132 and the plane of graphics B 133, the switching circuit 103 selects an input terminal 103A. The image data that is entered

50 from the switching circuit 102 are stored in a content buffer 105.

Also, when the image data displayed on the graphics plane A 132 and the graphics plane B 133 are contained in a real-time flow that is input to the input terminal 202, the switching circuit 103 selects an input terminal 103B. As a result, the image data is stored in the content buffer 105. The storage objects stored in the code buffer 104 and the content buffer

55 105 are read when necessary and are provided to a multimedia engine 106.

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Image data of the storage object stored in the content buffer 105 is also provided to a graphics decoder A 116 and a graphics decoder B 117 through switching circuits 107 and 108, respectively.

The multimedia engine 106 includes an XML parser 106A, a program / script interpreter 106B and a media player.

5 graphics 106C. The multimedia engine 106 also includes a sound player 106D that can handle audio data. The multimedia engine 106 may consist of independent hardware. Alternatively, the multimedia engine 106 can be achieved by a process of a predetermined program that the previous CPU (not shown) executes.

The XML 106A parser has a function to analyze an XML document (Extensible Markup Language).

10 In addition, the XML 106A parser can also analyze an HTML document and an XHTML document. An HTML document and an XHTML document analyzed by the XML parser 106A are converted into respective formats that can be executed by the player decoder 100. The program / script interpreter 106B analyzes a Java program (registered trademark), an ECMA script, and so on and converts them into respective formats that can be executed by the player decoder 100. The graphics player

15 106C decodes image data and obtains a format that can be expanded in the subtitle plane 11 and the graphics plane 12.

The multimedia engine 106 performs processes for the XML parser 106A, the program / script interpreter 106B, and the graphics player 106C with a working memory of a buffer 109. For example, the XML parser 106A and the program interpreter / hyphen 106B use a buffer of code 109a from buffer 109. The 106C graphics player

20 uses a buffer of graphics 109D of buffer 109. Buffer 109 also includes a source buffer 109B that stores source data used to display a character string, a tree buffer 109C that stores the analyzed result of the HTML document by XML parser 106A in a hierarchical tree structure, a sound buffer 109E that stores audio data used in the sound player 106D and so on.

When necessary, the multimedia engine 106 reads a Java program from the code buffer 104, data of

25 images of the content buffer 105 and so on. The data that is stored in the code buffer 104 and the content buffer 105 can be stored in the code buffer 104 and the content buffer 105 until the data becomes unnecessary. Accordingly, the data stored in the code buffer 104 and the content buffer 105 can be read, repeatedly, and used when necessary.

In addition to the above data, the multimedia engine 106 reads, for example, an ECMA script stored in the buffer

30 codes 104 and execute it. When necessary, the multimedia engine 106 can read another ECMA script and an HTML document (or XHTML document) from the code buffer 104 and execute them according to the description of the ECMA script that has been read.

In addition, the multimedia engine 106 receives a user input from a remote control commander, a focusing device, or the like and performs a predetermined process for user input. The entrance

User 35 is provided to the graphics decoder A 116, graphics decoder B 117, audio decoder 118, MPEG video decoder 120 and system decoder 121 which will be described later.

The image data processed by the graphics player 106C is provided to the graphics plane A 132 and the graphics plane B 133 through switching circuits 130 and 131, respectively. In the present example, although the image data provided to the graphics plane A 132 and the graphics plane B 133 may have several

40 formats, for example, the PNG format, the execution length format, and the JPEG format, according to the present invention, the formats of those are not limited. The time in which image data is provided to planes 132 and 133 is controlled by the multimedia engine 106.

In addition, the multimedia engine 106 provides control signals to a presentation processor 155 that will be described later to make it select one of the video 134, the subtitle plane 134, the second plane of

45 video 160, the graphics plane A 132, and the graphics plane B 133 and carry out the alpha mixing and so on. Also, the multimedia engine 106 provides a control signal to a presentation processor 157 which will be described below to cause it to control an output of an audio stream.

The multimedia engine 106 reads a Java program from a ROM (not shown) or the like and generates the BDBasicPlayer object in the multimedia engine 106. The multimedia engine 106 reads a Java program from the code buffer 104.

50 When necessary, an object composed of a Java program that has been read from code buffer 104 registers an event listener for the BDBasicPlayer object.

As described in Figure 15, in the multimedia engine 106, the BDBasicPlayer object transmits an event to an object composed of a Java program that has been read from the code buffer 104 corresponding to, for example, a user input. The object executes the corresponding method. The BDBasicPlayer object detects a change in

55 status of the player decoder 100. When the BDBasicPlayer object has detected a predetermined state change, the object generates a corresponding event. The multimedia engine 106 causes a method corresponding to the event to control a drive device (not shown) and each portion of the player decoder 100 to carry out a playback control for the disc. 18

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Next, the input channel system (2) will be described. A real-time stream that is entered as an MPEG 2 TS at the input terminal 202 is provided to the PID filter 110. The PID filter 110 extracts a PID (Package Identification) from a transport packet of the MPEG 2 TS transport stream and detects an attribute of the transport packet flow. The PID filter 110 separates the real-time input stream into corresponding systems for each transport packet according to the flow attribute.

When a transport package is a package in which the image data of a storage object is contained, the transport package is temporarily stored in a TBn 111A buffer. The transport packet is read at a predetermined time and is entered in the switching circuit 103 through the input terminal 103B that has been selected. Thereafter, the transport packet is stored in the content buffer 105 through the switching circuit 103.

When the PID filter 110 has determined that the transport packet contains subtitle data according to the PID, the transport packet is temporarily stored in a buffer TBn 111B and a buffer Bn 112B. The transport packet is read at a predetermined time and is entered in switching circuit 107 through an input terminal 107B that has been selected. The transport package is provided to the graphics decoder A 116 through the switching circuit 107.

Graphics decoder A 116 removes the header information of the transport package provided, decodes the subtitle data contained in the transport package, and obtains image data for subtitles or the like. The image data is entered into an input terminal 130B of the switching circuit 130 and expanded to the graphics plane A 132 through the switching circuit 130. In addition, the image data can be expanded to the graphics plane B 133 through of switching circuit 131.

When the PID filter 110 has determined that the transport package contains graph data according to the PID, the transport package is temporarily stored in a TBn 111C buffer and a Bn 112C buffer. The transport packet is read at a predetermined time and is entered into the switching circuit 108 through an input terminal 108B that has been selected. The transport packet is provided to the graphics decoder B 117 through the switching circuit 108.

The graphics decoder B 117 removes the header information of the transport package provided, decodes the graphics data contained in the transport package, and obtains graphics data. The image data is entered into an input terminal 131B of the switching circuit 131 at a predetermined time and expanded to the graphics plane B 133 through the switching circuit 131. In addition, the image data can be expanded to the graphics plane A 132 through switching circuit 131.

The function of the graphics decoder A 116 is not very different from the function of the graphics decoder B

117. In other words, as a model, there are two graphics decoder systems that work independently. Therefore, it is considered that the subtitle data and graphics data can be decoded independently. In a real implementation, a high-speed graphics decoder would be used on the basis of time division as if there were two virtual graphics decoder systems.

When the PID filter 110 has determined that the transport packet contains audio data according to the PID, the transport packet is temporarily stored in a TBn 111D buffer and a Bn 112D buffer. The transport packet is read at a predetermined time and is provided to the audio decoder 118. The audio data contained in the transport packet is encoded by compression according to a system based on, for example, the MPEG.

Audio decoder 118 also has, for example, a linear PCM (Coded Pulse Modulation) audio decoder 119. Audio decoder 118 removes the header information from the input transport stream, decodes compression encoded audio data contained in the transport package, and obtains audio data from linear PCM.

Linear PCM audio data that is produced from audio decoder 118 is entered into presentation processor 157 for audio. The presentation processor 157 adds a predetermined effect sound and so on to the linear PCM audio data under the control of the multimedia engine 106. The resulting data is obtained from an output terminal 158.

When the PID filter 110 has determined that the transport package contains moving image data according to the PID, the transport package is temporarily stored in a TBn 111E buffer, an MBn buffer 113, and an EBn buffer 114, read in a predetermined time, and provided to the MPEG 120 video decoder. The motion picture data contained in the transport package has been encoded by compression according to the MPEG 2 system.

The MPEG 120 video decoder removes the header information from the transport package provided, decodes motion image data that has been encoded by compression according to the MPEG 2 system, and obtains baseband motion image data.

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The moving image data that is produced from the MPEG video decoder 120 is input to an input terminal 124A of a switching circuit 124. In the switching circuit 124, the moving image data that is produced from the decoder MPEG 120 video and motion picture data that is produced from the multimedia engine 106 are selected. Motion picture data selected at a predetermined time is entered in a switching 123. Switching 123 selects a video plane to which the moving image data is expanded. Motion picture data is developed for video plane 134 or video background 160.

When the PID filter 110 has determined that the transport package contains system information according to the PID, the transport package is provided to the system decoder 121 through the TBn 111F and Bsys 115 buffers. The system decoder 121 deletes the information heading of the transport package provided and extracts the system information from there. System information is provided to, for example, a CPU (not shown).

Image data in the graphics plane A 132 is provided to a palette 150. The palette has 256 colors. The palette is referred to as an index. RGB data is produced. In addition, the α1 transparency data that is a parameter for the alpha mix is extracted. RGB data is converted to YCbCr data by an RGB / YCbCr 151 conversion circuit. YCbCr data and α1 transparency data are provided to presentation processor 155.

Image data in the graphics plane 133 is provided to a palette 152. The palette has 256 colors. The palette is referred to as an index. As a result, RGB data is produced. In addition, the α2 transparency data is extracted. RGB data is converted into YCbCr data by an RGB / YCbCr 153 conversion circuit. YCbCr data and α2 transparency data are provided to presentation processor 155.

An output of the video plane 134 is provided to the presentation processor 155 through an up / down converter 154. Also, an output of the video background 160 is provided to the presentation processor 155 through an up / down converter 161 .

The up / down converter 154 is a circuit that converts the resolution of the image. The up / down converter 154 converts, for example, an HD (High Definition) image that has a high resolution into an SD (Standard Definition) image that has a standard resolution.

The presentation processor 155 performs an alpha mixing process by using α1 transparency of image data from the graphics plane A 132 and α2 transparency of the graphics plane B 133. In addition, the presentation processor 155 selects, so Alternatively, outputs of video plane 134 and video background 160 for each pixel to achieve the above image-in-image function, the wallpaper display function, and so on.

In other words, the presentation processor 155 selects the image data of the video plane 134 and the video background 160 with a switching (not shown) to generate image data. The image data and the image data of the graphic plane A 132 are combined according to the α1 transparent transparency set for the image data of the graphic plane A 132. In addition, the image data of the graphic plane B 133 is combined with the image data whose video plane and graphics plane A 132 have been combined according to the α2 transparency that has been established for the image data of the graphic plane B 133. The image data of the graphic plane B 133, the data of graphics plane images A 132 (subtitle data), and image data whose image data of video plane 134 and video background 160 have been combined are obtained from an output terminal 156.

The presentation processor 155 can carry out an effect process for real-time image data.

In the above description, each portion of the player decoder 100 consists of hardware. However, the present invention is not limited to said example. For example, the player decoder 100 can be achieved by a software process. In the present case, the player decoder 100 can operate on a computer device. Alternatively, the player decoder 100 can be achieved by a combination of hardware and software. For example, audio decoder 118 and MPEG video decoder 120 may consist of hardware. The rest of the player decoder 100 may consist of software.

A program that causes the computer device to execute the player decoder 100 which is composed of only software or a combination of hardware and software is recorded on a recording medium, for example, a CD-ROM (Compact Disc-Solo Memory Reading) is provided with that. The CD-ROM is loaded to a CD-ROM drive of the computer device. The program recorded on the CD-ROM is installed on the computer device. As a result, the above process can be executed on the computer device. Since the structure of the computer device is known, its description will be omitted.

2. Second embodiment of the present invention

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Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. According to the second embodiment, a player model is described with a script language called the ECMA script. The ECMA script is a cross-platform script language established by ECMA (European Association of Computer Manufacturers). The ECMA script is based on JavaScript (registered trademark). The ECMA script has a close affinity with an HTML document. In addition, the ECMA script can define original objects. Accordingly, the ECMA script can be used appropriately for a player model according to the present invention.

As described in Figure 28A, Figure 28B and Figure 28C, since the multimedia engine 106 in the player decoder 100 can analyze and execute the ECMA script. The player decoder 100 can be used in the second embodiment of the present invention.

According to the second embodiment of the present invention, the standard that uses a script language based on the ECMA script is called the UMD video standard (Universal Media Disk, registered trademark). The script part of the UMD video standard is called the UMD video script standard.

2-1. About the UMD video standard

First, for easy understanding, the UMD video standard applicable to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described. Figure 29 shows a layer structure of the UMD video standard. The layer structure shown in Figure 29 corresponds to the structure shown in Figure 1 according to the first embodiment. In the UMD video standard, three layers, a script layer, a playlist layer, and a clip layer are defined. According to this structure, flows are managed.

In the UMD video standard, video data, audio data, and subtitle data that have been digitally encoded are treated as an MPEG 2 stream (Group of Motion Picture Experts 2) in which they have been multiplexed as MPEG 2 elementary streams. An MPEG 2 stream whose elementary streams of video, audio and subtitles have been multiplexed is called an AV clip stream. An AV clip stream is stored in an AV clip stream file. When an AV clip stream file is recorded, a clip information file is also created in the one-to-one relationship. A set of a clip information file and a corresponding AV clip stream file is called a clip.

A clip is a data recording unit that is recorded on the disc. The playback order of the clips is managed in the playlist layer that is a top layer of clips. The playlist layer, which is a layer that designates the clip playback path, contains one or multiple playlists. A playlist consists of a set of play items. A playback element contains a set of an entry point and an exit point that represent the playback range of a clip. With playback items, clips can be played in any order. Playback elements can designate the same clip. The entry point and the exit point of an AV clip stream file are designated with time indications (times in a clip). A time indication is converted to a byte position of the AV clip stream file with information from the clip information file.

A playlist has a structure by which the playback elements that represent all or a part of the clips are played in the order. With only one playlist, derivations of the order of reproduction and interactivity with the user cannot be achieved.

The script layer is a layer that consists of the UMD video script, which is an extension of the ECMA script as a language. The UMD video script is an ECMA-based script that extends to an original UMD video function.

The script layer is a top layer of the playlist layer. The script layer consists of playlist playback commands and player setting commands. With script layer commands, reproductions of the playlist, such as a language selection in which a stream corresponding to a desired language is selected from several conditional streams and derivations whose playlists will be played are selected according to predetermined conditions can be achieved. An example of an application that performs a reproduction of a playlist that has conditional derivations is one of several levels. The script layer provides an interactive function to the user.

2-2. About the player model based on the UMD video standard

Next, a model of a playback device (player) that reproduces data based on the UMD video standard will be described, namely the player model. First, the player reads a script program, a playlist, and a clip information file from the disc. The player then reads an AV clip stream file from the disc according to the playback order described in the script program, the playlist and the clip information file and plays the video data, audio data and subtitle data of the clip AV file.

In the language specification of the script program, a functional block that plays a playlist is implemented as an object of the script program. In the UMD video standard, an object that plays a playlist is referred to as the movie player object. Playlist playback commands and player setting commands are methods of the movie player object. The movie player object is controlled with script layer methods. At this point, a function is required that allows the movie player object to report the layer of

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5 script about a change of state, a playback position, and so on. This means that the movie player object issues an event to the script program. A process corresponding to the event is described as an event handler.

Therefore, with a model whose information is transferred from the movie player object to the script program using events and the script program controls the movie player object using methods, the

10 Playback of a clip AV stream can be controlled by the script program.

Figure 30 shows, schematically, an example of the player model according to the second embodiment of the present invention. A movie player 300 is a module that reproduces video data, audio data, and subtitle data according to the UMD video standard. The movie player object is an object of a script program so that the script program operates a movie object. In other words,

15 A movie player object is a script program that achieves the function of the movie player.

Since it is considered that the movie player 300 and the movie player object represent substantially the same object, hereafter they are denoted by the same reference numeral.

In Figure 30, the movie player 300 reads, decodes, and displays an AV clip stream file according to a lower layer method (a native deployment platform 301) and a script layer method 302

20 as a top layer based on a playlist and a clip information database.

The inside of the movie player 300 depends on the implementation of a UMD video player that plays the UMD video. A script layer 302 provides an API (Application Programming Interface) such as a method and a property such as an object that is a black box. In the present example, the UMD video player represents a real device that implements a movie player. All the

25 UMD video players implement a movie player that meets the UMD video standard and has playback compatibility.

As shown in Figure 30, the movie player object 300 has three input / output paths that are a path that receives a control command 311 from the native implementation platform 301, a path that informs the script layer 302 about an event 312, and a path that receives a method 313 of the

30 dash layer 302.

The control command 311 is a command that controls the operation of the movie player object 300 received from the native implementation platform 301. The native implementation platform 301 is a specific portion for a device such as a real UMD video player and a interface with movie player

300. Event 312 is a script event that movie player 300 sends to script layer 302. Method 313 is a method that the script program of script layer 302 sends to movie player 300.

The movie player object 300 has a database 320 for playlists and clip information according to the UMD video standard. The movie player object 300 hides a user input 310 and converts a designated time playback position to a byte position of an AV clip stream with database 320.

40 A playback module 321 of the movie player 300 decodes an AV clip stream as a PS (Program Stream) MPEG 2 in which the video data, audio data and subtitle data have been multiplexed. The playback module 321 has three states that are play, stop and pause. The changes of the playback module 321 operate in one of said three states according to a control command and a method (see Figure 31).

45 The script layer 302 is a layer in which a script program is executed based on the UMD video script standard, the movie player object 300 is controlled and a screen is displayed. The script layer 302 achieves a scenario that the content provider side intends to create. The script layer 302 issues method 313 to the movie player object 300 and receives event 312 from the movie player object

300. The script layer 302 exchanges a key event 314 with the native implementation platform 301

50 corresponding to a user input 310 and a method 315 that causes the native implementation platform 301 to display a screen.

For example, the buttons that appear on the menu screen are drawn by the native implementation platform 301 corresponding to method 315 that is transferred from the script program of the script layer 302 to the native implementation platform 301. When the user selects a button on the menu screen, the

The native implementation platform 301 informs script layer 302 about the key event 314 corresponding to user input 310. The script program of script layer 302 performs a process for user input 310 corresponding to key event 314.

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The script and data program, such as image data and sound data used in the script file, are recorded as a file for the disc. This file corresponds to the scenario.hdmv file shown in Figure 25A and Figure 25B.

Accordingly, the movie player 300 controls the decoding and display processes for video data, audio data and subtitle data. On the other hand, the script layer 302 controls the allocation and display processes for part images such as buttons that make up the GUI (Graphical User Interface) and carries out a process against a selection process for GUI parts .

The native implementation platform 301 is a platform on which the movie player object 300 and a script program operate. When the actual UMD video player consists of hardware, the native deployment platform 301 is specifically implemented as hardware so that the native deployment platform 301 mediates between the hardware and the player model.

For example, the native implementation platform 301 receives user input 310 from the user and determines whether the user input 310 received is a command for the movie player 300 or a command for a button that the script layer 302 extracts and displays . When the native implementation platform 301 has determined that user input 310 is a command for the movie player 300, native deployment platform 301 converts user input 310 into control command 311 which is an internal control command from the movie player 300 and issues a control command to the movie player 300. On the other hand, when the native implementation platform 301 has determined that the user input 310 is a command for a GUI part that the script layer 302 extracts and shows, the native implementation platform 301 informs the script layer 302 about the key event 314 corresponding to user input 310.

Next, the movie player 300 will be described in detail. Figure 31 shows an internal structure of an example of the movie player 300. As described above, the movie player 300 consists of database 320 and the module 321. The database 320 is an area for the information of the playlists that are read from the disc and clip information, namely clip information.

The playback module 321 consists of a decoder motor 322 and a property 323 which is a value that represents the status of the playback module 321. As a language code, property 323 consists of two types of a property 323A (parameter of read only) whose value depends on the initial setting of the movie player 300 and a 323B property (player status) whose value depends on the status of the playback module 321.

Property 323A whose value depends on the initial establishment is set by a native system, for example a real device. Property 323A does not vary with a playlist, clip information, or script program. Property 323A can be read from a script program. On the other hand, property 323B representing the status of the playback module 321 can be read from a script program. Property 323B can be written from a part of the script programs.

In the operating model, it is assumed that a playlist and clip information are preloaded before an AV clip stream is played. Another implementation model can be used as long as the functions for the movie player model can be achieved.

The movie player object 300 reproduces a designated playlist corresponding to a command received from the script layer 302 or native deployment platform 301. For example, the movie player 300 refers to the database 320 and obtains the Playback position of an AV clip stream corresponding to the playlist designated as a byte position. The decoder motor 322 of the playback module 321 controls the decoding process for the AV clip stream corresponding to the playback position information.

As shown in Figure 32, the movie player 300 has three states, which are play, stop and pause, corresponding to the play states of a playlist. The playback status represents that the movie player 300 is playing a playlist and that a time is elapsing. In addition, in normal playback, the playback status includes variable speed reproductions such as, for example, reproduction at a speed of 2x and reproduction at a speed of 1 / 2x, and fast forward and rewind. The pause status represents that the time axis stops while movie player 300 is playing a playlist. The so-called stage playback state represents that the movie player 300 reproduces, forwards or backwards, a playlist for each frame. The stop status represents that video player 300 does not play any playlists.

The states of the movie player 300 change correspondingly to the state changes between playback, pause and stop of the decoder engine 322 of the movie player 300. The value of property 323B is updated according to the change of state of the decoder engine. 322

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The resume information represents the state immediately before the detention state takes place. When the movie player 300 decodes a playlist and becomes the playback state, if the movie player 300 becomes the stop state, the resume information represents the state immediately before the status of detention. The resume information can be stored in permanent memory that the player has as hardware so that each disc title can be identified.

2-3. About the event model of the movie player

Next, an event model of the movie player 300 will be described. The movie player 300 generates several events in the playback state in which the movie player 300 plays a playlist. This event causes a process program described in a script to run. Said process program is called an event handler. The event handler is a required method when an event takes place. When said event takes place, a program execution model starts the execution of a process program. The present program execution model is called an event driven model. According to the second embodiment of the present invention, the script program controls the operation of the movie player object 300 with a group of event handlers.

Figure 33 shows, schematically, an event model of the movie player 300 according to the second embodiment of the present invention. In Figure 33, the onEventA (), onEventB (), and onEvent () event handlers are interfaces. The contents of these event handlers are described in the script. The contents of the event handlers are created and implemented by the content creator side. In the UMD video script standard, each event whose movie player object 300 informs the script program is provided with an event handler. In the example shown in Figure 33, a process program that runs when event A takes place is the onEventA () event handler. Also, with respect to event B and event C, when event B takes place, the onEventB () event handler is executed. When event C takes place, the onEventC () event handler is executed.

Since an event handler required when an event takes place is selected on the system side, the content creator side does not need to describe in the script program a process that determines an event taking place.

The event model according to the second embodiment is simpler than the event listener model according to the first embodiment described in Figure 15 because the latter requires processes that record events and delete recorded events. On the other hand, in a model that requires a processEvent () method regardless of which event takes place (see Figure 20), it is necessary to describe in the processEvent () method preprocesses that know what event takes place and select a routine of processes for an event that takes place. Since the processEvent () method must be implemented by the content creator side, even if the model is simple, the content creator side needs to laboriously create the disk. In addition, when an event takes place, a large process program (method) is required. Consequently, a large memory space would be used and the execution speed would become slow. Therefore, since the model according to the second embodiment of the present invention provides each event with a process program (event handler), with respect to this point, the model of the second embodiment is superior to that of the first embodiment.

2-4. About the object of movie player 300

Next, the external specifications of the movie player object 300 will be described. In general, an object defined in a language corresponding to the ECMA script language specification has a property and a method. The movie player object 300 according to the second embodiment of the present invention has a property and a method as described in Figure 31 and Figure 32. A property can be read and written directly by designating the predetermined object name and property name . In addition, with the setXXX () method (where "XXX" represents a designated property name) that sets a property value and the getXXX () method that reads a property value, a property of another object can be read and written by those methods

For the properties and methods of the film player 300 according to the second embodiment of the present invention, the same specifications as those according to the first embodiment described in Figure 7 to Figure 12 may be applied. In other words, according to the second embodiment of the In the present invention, it can be thought that the specifications (API) between the script program of the script layer 302 and the movie player object 300, namely method 313 described in Figure 30, are the same Java-defined class of the first embodiment of the present invention.

As described in Figure 30, user input 310 is first received by native deployment platform 301. In other words, native deployment platform 301 receives the key input as user input 310 of the user. The native implementation platform 301 determines whether user input 310 is a command for the movie player 300 or an event for the script program of the script layer 302. Depending on the result determined, the native implementation platform 301 generates the control command 311 or the

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key event 314 and informs the corresponding upper layer (the movie player 300 or the script layer 302) about it.

User input 310 is a key input that is described in Figure 24, Figure 25A and Figure 25B. The roles of the functions corresponding to the key inputs shown in Figure 24 are different from those shown in Figure 25A and Figure 25B. Therefore, the native implementation platform 301 needs to select a destination that is informed of user input.

The key inputs shown in Figure 24 cause the movie player 300 to play video data, audio data and subtitle data. When the native implementation platform 301 receives a key input shown in Figure 24 as user input 310, the native implementation platform 301 converts the received key input into a command described in Figure 21A, Figure 21B, Figure 21C and Figure 21D. The movie player 300 is informed about the converted command as the control command

311. In other words, the user input commands described in Figure 21A, Figure 21B, Figure 21C and Figure 21D correspond to the control command 311 shown in Figure 30.

On the other hand, the key entries shown in Figure 25A and Figure 25B are user input 310 for the GUI. When the native implementation platform 301 receives a key input shown in Figure 25A and Figure 25B as the user input 310, the native implementation platform 301 converts the received key input into a key event 314 and informs the script layer 302 on the key event 314.

Figure 25A and Figure 25B also show key entries regarding flow selections that are the VK_ANGLE key, VK_PRESENTATION_GRAPHICS key, and VK_AUDIO key. Said key inputs are achieved by methods of a script program for the movie player 300. Accordingly, they are key entries on which the script layer 302 must be informed.

2-5. About event handling by the object of movie player 300

According to the first embodiment using the Java language, the BDBasicPlayer object has the events shown in Figure 14A, Figure 14B, and Figure 14C. Based on the event listener model shown in Figure 15, listeners are registered and removed from the registry using the methods shown in Figure 16A and Figure 16B. In the event listener model according to the first embodiment, while a program is running, a listener can be registered and removed from the registry dynamically. An event response process can be changed while a program is running. Accordingly, programming that has a higher degree of freedom and a superior advanced function can be achieved in comparison to the related technique.

On the other hand, in the script language based on the ECMA script according to the second embodiment of the present invention, a process program that has been prepared corresponding to an event that takes place is required without the need to register and remove from the registry the listeners An interface corresponding to a listener according to the first embodiment is the event handlers of the movie player 300. In an event handler model, the methods with respect to the listener record shown in Figure 16A and Figure 16B are not necessary. .

According to the second embodiment of the present invention, the examples of event handlers in Figure 34A and Figure 34B are provided according to the events. The names of the event handlers have the prefix "on". The examples of the event handlers shown in Figure 34A and Figure 34B correspond to events shown in Figure 14A, Figure 14B and Figure 14C of the first embodiment.

The onTimerFired () event handler corresponds to an event that occurs when the countdown timer value of the movie player 300 becomes "0" or when the countdown timer value becomes a predetermined value. Therefore, a process can be accomplished in a predetermined time.

The onPlayStopped () event handler corresponds to an event that occurs when playback stops on the 300 movie player. The onPlayStilled () event handler corresponds to an event that occurs when playback is paused on the movie player. 300. The onPlayStarted () event handler corresponds to an event that occurs when playback starts on the 300 movie player. The onPlayRepeated () event handler corresponds to an event that occurs when the start of default data is detected in the repeat playback of the movie player 300. Accordingly, a process corresponding to the state of the decoder motor 322 can be achieved.

The onSPDisplayStatusChanged () event handler corresponds to an event that occurs when the display or non-display status of a subtitle data stream (subimage) changes in the movie player 300. The onSelectedAudioChanged () event handler corresponds to a event that occurs when an audio stream that is playing changes in the movie player 300. The onVideoStopped () event handler corresponds to an event that occurs when a video stream that is being played changes in the movie player 300. Accordingly, a process corresponding to a change of a flow being reproduced can be achieved.

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The onPlayListStarted () event handler corresponds to an event that occurs when the start of a playlist is detected in the movie player 300. The onPlayListEnded () 5 event handler corresponds to an event that occurs when the end of a playlist is detected in the movie player 300. The onPlayItemStarted () event handler corresponds to an event that occurs when the start of a play item is detected in the movie player 300. The onPlayItemEnded event handler ( ) corresponds to an event that occurs when the end of a playback element is detected in the movie player 300. Accordingly, the processes corresponding to the beginning and end of the

10 Playback for playlists and play items, such as continuous play for playlists and play items, can be achieved.

The onMarkEncountered () event handler corresponds to an event that occurs when a mark is detected from a playlist while the playlist is being played on the movie player 300. When a mark representing a time is preset for a playlist, a

15 referral process for a playlist that is being played can be achieved.

The contents of said event handlers are described by the use of a descriptive language by the content creator side. Therefore, when an event takes place, a function that the content provider side intends can be achieved.

Claims (11)

image 1 1. A playback apparatus for reproducing content data hierarchically recorded on a disc-shaped recording medium, comprising: a player object (30) defined by a java class to control a reproduction process for data of content hierarchically recorded on the disc-shaped recording medium and to generate an event (312) corresponding to a predetermined change; user input means for receiving a user input and informing said player object about the user input, wherein the default change is based on an input for said user input means; Y 10 a java program object (31) formed above said player object, wherein the java program object is a superordinate program with respect to the player object and controls the player object through an application programming interface (32), wherein the java program object is configured to prepare programs that run when the java program object is informed about the occurrence of events; 15 where a program carries out a process corresponding to the event taking place; Y wherein said player object is configured to inform the java program object about the occurrence of said event, and to control the playback process for content data hierarchically recorded on the disc-shaped recording medium with said process corresponding to the event . 2. The reproduction apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said java program object is reproduced from the recording medium. 3. The reproduction apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein when said java program object records a process corresponding to the event that takes place for said player object, said player object executes the process corresponding to the event taking place. The reproduction apparatus as set forth in claim 3, wherein while the content data is being reproduced, the process can be recorded. 5. The reproduction apparatus as set forth in claim 3, where while the content data is being played, the process that has been registered can be deleted from the registry. The reproduction apparatus as set forth in claim 1, where the default change is a change that takes place while the content data is being played. 7. The reproduction apparatus as set forth in claim 6, where the default change is the detection of a mark that represents a time that is set in the content data. 8. The reproduction apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein a virtual key is assigned to a physical key of said user input means by said Java program object, the default change being an entry for the virtual key. 9. The reproduction apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the predetermined change is a change of status of a player.

10.

 The reproduction apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein one or multiple events take place according to the change based on the event.

eleven.

 The reproduction apparatus as set forth in claim 1,

27 image2 wherein the playback process includes a playback control that reproduces the content data of the disc-shaped recording medium and a process for the content data reproduced from the disc-shaped recording medium. 12. A reproduction method for reproducing content data hierarchically recorded on a disc-shaped recording medium, comprising the steps of: user input means that receive a user input and inform a player object about the user input; the player object defined by a java class and which controls a playback process for content data hierarchically recorded on the disc-shaped recording medium and generates an event 10 corresponding to a predetermined change, wherein the predetermined change is based on said user input for user input means; said player object informs a java program object formed above said player object about the occurrence of said event, wherein the java program object is a superordinate program with respect to the player object and controls the player object to through an interface of 15 application programming; the java program object that prepares programs that run when the java program object is informed about the occurrence of events; where a program carries out a process corresponding to the event; Y said player object informs the java program object about the occurrence of said event, and controls the 20 playback process for content data hierarchically recorded on the disc-shaped recording medium with said process corresponding to the event. 13. A playback program that causes a computer device to execute the playback method of claim 12 to reproduce the content data hierarchically recorded on a disc-shaped recording medium. 14. A computer readable recording medium in which the playback program of claim 13 has been recorded. 28